The Court concluded that the findings were discretionary determinations of subjective policies in the specific plan as opposed to objective findings. The decision and judgment states that the town must reconsider petitioners’ applications and the project and. . . specify the applicable, objective general plan, specific plan and zoning standards which the project failed to comply.

Contra Costa prosecutors react to DA’s resignation, state expert calls it the ‘death penalty’ for elected officials

A day after disgraced Contra Costa District Attorney Mark Peterson was convicted of a felony and resigned, prosecutors who had endured six months of drama expressed mixed emotions, wondering whether things would get better, or if the taint of Peterson’s actions would linger. On Thursday, many prosecutors in the office seemed as though they were still taking it all in, and they weren’t all of like mind concerning the impact. Some were somber, saying the scandal — which became public in December — stained the office’s reputation beyond Peterson’s tenure. Two other prosecutors said a “cloud” had been lifted from the office.

It took almost 90 years, but lawmakers voted to gut California's tax board," by SacBee's Adam Ashton: "California lawmakers on Thursday voted to gut a unique and embattled state agency that both collects taxes and allows elected representatives to settle disputes from taxpayers. The Legislature on Thursday voted to strip the Board of Equalization of almost all of its power and to replace it with two new departments." Story

California Legislature votes to keep dam-safety plans secret," by SacBee's Ryan Sabalow, Jim Miller and Dale Kasler: "Fresh off the Oroville Dam crisis, California lawmakers on Thursday voted to make dam-safety plans secret through language that was quietly inserted into a budget-related bill. The legislation, which requires Gov. Jerry Brown's signature before becoming law, says emergency action plans at dams would be kept confidential to 'protect public safety.'" Story

California looks to boost marijuana, block immigration jails," by AP's Jonathan J. Cooper: "California lawmakers voted Thursday to set rules for the state's nascent marijuana industry and to quash the growth of federal immigration detention as part of a $125 billion state budget lawmakers approved for the next fiscal year." Story

Feinstein wants Comey back on the Hill - and will back a subpoena if necessary," by POLITICO's Austin Wright: "Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, wants former FBI Director James Comey to return to Capitol Hill to testify before her panel - and says Democrats are willing to back a subpoena for Comey if he refuses. Feinstein's demand came in a letter Thursday to the committee's chairman, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), in which she makes recommendations for how the panel should proceed in its investigation into Comey's firing." Story

California needs federal help to restrict use of guns, advocate says," by SFChronicle's Bob Egelko: "California's firearms laws, already among the nation's toughest, have been further stiffened by legislators and voters in the past year with bans on high-capacity gun magazines and the sales of guns with so-called bullet buttons that enable speedy reloading, and a requirement, to take effect in 2019, of background checks for buyers of ammunition. And as firearms advocates challenge those laws in court, lawmakers are considering further measures that would ban gun possession on school grounds and limit purchases of rifles and shotguns to one per month, a restriction that already applies to handguns." Story

Schiff wants obstruction to be part of House Russia probe," by POLITICO's Austin Wright: "Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, is negotiating with his Republican counterpart about whether to investigate President Donald Trump for obstruction of justice as part of the panel's Russia investigation. 'I think it needs to be part of the investigation,' Schiff said in an interview Thursday. 'Congress has to get to the bottom of whether anybody is interfering or obstructing any investigation in any way.'" Story

UPS gunman had complained to management, but killed fellow drivers," by SFChronicle's Evan Sernoffsky and Vivian Ho: "The gunman who killed three people and himself at a United Parcel Service facility in San Francisco had filed a grievance in March about excessive overtime, but he targeted fellow drivers in his rampage and those who knew him are struggling to understand why, a UPS union official said Thursday." Story

Could you soon get a joint with your County Fair corn dog?" by SacBee's Taryn Luna: "It's budget day, in which lawmakers in both houses of the state Legislature will vote on a sweeping $183 billion spending plan to keep California running for another year. A series of bills come along with the budget that spell out potential new laws related to everything from state recall petitions to Medi-Cal. One of the bills up for a vote Thursday seeks to reconcile the recreational marijuana law voters approved in November with previously passed medical marijuana legislation. Tucked inside the language of the pot bill is a clause that would legalize weed festivals." Story

LAPD cadets stole police cars and may have impersonated officers, chief says," by LATimes' Kate Mather, Richard Winton and James Queally: Story

Warriors parade: Hundreds of thousands party in downtown Oakland," by the Merc's Erin Baldassari: Story

Accused cop killer erupts in court: 'I'm going to kill all you m...........,'" by SacBee's Sam Stanton: Story

Bay Area inflation soars, worst since 2001," by the Merc's George Avalos: Story

Inland area has 400,000 cars with defective Takata airbags, group says," by Press-Enterprise's Imran Ghori: Story

Forum accuses Inglewood and Clippers of 'backroom dealing' in agreement to explore building new arena," by LA Times' Nathan Fenno: Story

What would really happen if a tsunami hit the bay area?" by KQED's Johanna Varner and Olivia Allen-Price: Story

The Almost Daily Briefing is an aggregation of links to news articles from local and regional newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs, and other internet sources. Its purpose is to alert readers to current issues and affairs that may impact Lafayette. The Almost Daily Briefing does not promote, favor, disfavor, support, reject, or endorse any position, candidate, campaign, or proposition, and nothing about the Daily Briefing, including the selection, presentation, arrangement, or content of the links presented should be construed as an advocacy position.